If your chest pain is along the edges of the breastbone, it may be due COSTOCHONDRITIS, an inflammation along the edges of your breastbone or sternum.
Do you have episodes of pressure under the breastbone brought on by cold air, activity or eating? The pain also may be felt on the shoulder, neck, between the shoulder blades, the arms or the upper abdomen.
Your pain may be ANGINA from the heart. Seek medical help without delay.
If you have a burning or pressure sensation in your upper stomach or chest when you eat large meals at night, you may have a HIATUS HERNIA, a common problem in which the top of the stomach is pushed into the lower chest after eating. Eat small bland meals, especially at night, and use a simple antacid to help reduce the discomfort. Avoid spices, fat, coffee, tea and coco. Sleeping with the head of your bed raised also helps.
If you have bouts of pain under the sternum or in the right side of your abdomen near the top, and have burning, belching, or bloating of the stomach after a fatty meal your pain may be from a GALLBLADDER disease. Avoid fatty meals and stay away from cabbage, onions, broccoli and similar vegetables. You should consult your doctor and follow his advice.
If you have pain or a burning sensation related to eating, You may have a PEPTICULCER, OESOPHAGITIS (an inflammation of the food pipe) or SPASM of the muscles of the esophagus. Eat smaller, less spicy meals. Use an antacid till you are able to see your doctor.
If you have a consistent pain or sharp, shooting pains for weeks to months after you had Herpes Zoster, your pain may be POST HERPETIC NEURALGIA. Your doctor will make the diagnosis and give proper treatment.
If you have shortness of breath with chest discomfort, cough or wheezing, you may be having BRONCHIAL ASTHMA. See your doctor right away. Asthma can be a serious disorder and cause rapid and extreme changes in breathing. But it can be treated easily.
If you are a smoker and have a chronic cough with sputum your discomfort and shortness of breath may be from CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. If your shortness of breath has been increasing slowly for years and you have been a smoker or been exposed to dust and fumes EMPHYSEMA may be the cause of your problem. STOP SMOKING and protect your lungs from dust and fumes. See your doctor.
Do you have fever, cough, night sweats, or are you coughing up bloody mucus?
You may have an infectious illness, such as TUBERCULOSIS or a FUNGAL INFECTION. A more serious problem, such as LUNG CANCER, could also be the cause. Seek Medical help.
In conclusion, chest pains can occur from a number of causes some of which require immediate attention and one should not ignore any chest pain and seek medical help to determine its cause at the earliest.